[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 151 (2005), Part 19]
[House]
[Pages 25563-25564]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                          CUTS TO STUDENT AID

  (Ms. LINDA T. SANCHEZ of California asked and was given permission to 
address the House for 1 minute.)
  Ms. LINDA T. SANCHEZ of California. Madam Speaker, when I was elected 
to Congress, I never thought I would be asked to participate in 
crushing the dreams of American children. But that is exactly what the 
House majority is asking me to do. The House budget reconciliation bill 
includes $14.3 billion in overall cuts to Federal student aid programs 
over the next 5 years. This cut will be the single largest cut in the 
entire history of the student aid program. I thought the majority did 
not want to leave any child behind. But obviously what this cut means 
is they do not want to leave you behind, until you want to go to 
college.
  I know firsthand the importance of student aid. I would not be 
standing on the floor of this House if it were not for student aid 
programs. These loans made my education dreams a reality. I am the only 
member of the California congressional delegation still paying off her 
student loans. Each month I proudly write that check because I know the 
best investment I and my seven brothers and sisters could have made was 
our investment in our own education.
  Can you imagine where we will be in 20 years when we lack the 
professionals that we need in this country? Make no mistake, these 
proposed cuts to student aid programs will negatively impact the future 
of our workforce and our economy.

[[Page 25564]]



                          ____________________